The Schliemann against the Ruy Lopez

• At a glance

  The Schliemann against the Ruy Lopez

  83 games, 47%: against 3.Bb5, TheChessNerd answers 3…f5 almost every time. A gambit that hits e4 at once, with the f-file and the c5 bishop aimed at f2.

  18 cards, one idea each. Swipe to move on.

• The big idea

  Your games: 81× · you score 47%

  Against the Ruy Lopez, TheChessNerd plays the Schliemann: 3…f5 in 81 of 82 games. The f-pawn hits e4 straight away.

• The big idea

  Your games: 48× · you score 51%

  Against 4.d3, the most frequent line, Black takes on e4, develops Nf6 and Bc5, and aims at f2.

• The big idea

  Your games: 3× · you score 67%

  83 games, 47%, above TheChessNerd's score as Black (43.8%). The dossier finds one recurring move that Stockfish disputes: 7…Be6 after 6…d6 7.Nc3, played 3 times for 67%.

• The big idea

  Your games: 7× · you score 29%

  The hard positions: 4.exf5 (29% in 7 games) and 8.Bc4 in the 7.Nc3 line (20% in 5 games).

• The big idea

  The thread of the course: activity against structure. Black accepts doubled pawns or a pawn down, and lives off the f-file and the bishops.

• The big idea

  Stockfish keeps a small edge for White in most lines: the six chapters show how to stay active.

• Principle

  3…f5: hit e4

  Your games: 81× · you score 47%

  The f-pawn targets e4 from move three. White has to choose: defend, take, or ignore it.

• Principle

  The c5 bishop aims at f2

  Your games: 21× · you score 40%

  With the f-file half open, f2 becomes the target: the c5 bishop and the f8 rook both converge on it.

• Principle

  The f-file

  Your games: 7× · you score 36%

  After short castling, the f8 rook lands straight on the file opened by 3…f5.

• Principle

  …e4 chases the knight

  Your games: 6× · you score 33%

  When White takes on f5 or pushes d4, the e5 pawn advances to e4 and chases the f3 knight.

• Principle

  Chase the c4 bishop

  A white bishop on c4 eyes the a2-g8 diagonal, weakened by …f5. Na5 chases it away.

• Imbalance

  A pawn against activity

  Your games: 7× · you score 36%

  After Bxc6 and Nxe5, White is a pawn up. Black has the bishop pair and the f-file.

• Imbalance

  The doubled c-pawns

  Your games: 9× · you score 44%

  After Bxc6 bxc6, Black has two c-pawns. In return, the b-file opens and the c6 pawn holds d5.

• Imbalance

  The advanced e4 pawn

  Your games: 6× · you score 42%

  Against 4.Nc3 and 4.exf5, the black pawn reaches e4. It gains space and chases the f3 knight, but it needs support.

• The trade-off

  What you gain

  • Against 4.d4, 67% in 6 games.
  • Against 4.d3, 51% in 48 games.
  • After 6…Bc5 7.Nc3, 67% in 6 games.
  • The same plan keeps coming back: Nf6, Bc5, short castling.
• The trade-off

  What you give up

  • Against 4.exf5, 29% in 7 games.
  • After 7.Nc3 d6 8.Bc4, 20% in 5 games.
  • After 7.Bxc6, 44% in 9 games.
  • Stockfish keeps a small edge for White in most lines.
• That's all

  Your turn

  These ideas only stick once you play the moves. The chapters make you find the right ones.

  Start chapter 1

Card 1 of 18: The Schliemann against the Ruy Lopez

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